HC notice on defacement of public properties ahead of DU polls

The Delhi High Court and the National Green Tribunal today expressed shock at the massive use of pamphlets, fliers and plastering of Delhi University walls with posters for the upcoming students union polls, with both issuing notices to the authorities and others.
The high court sought the responses of the city police and the civic bodies on a petition seeking a complete ban on the alleged defacement of the public properties by the candidates for the upcoming Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) polls on September 12.
Shocked at the alleged inaction of the authorities on the use of spray paints, posters, banners and hoardings in and around the university campus walls and inside the classrooms, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar sought to know "why action has not been taken".

In a related development, the NGT also strongly objected to the blatant use of paper in the DUSU elections in violation of its order restraining the students' body from using pamphlets and splattering the campus walls with posters.
Issuing notice to the Delhi University (DU) on the issue, a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also sought the responses from the DUSU and the University Grants Commission, asking them to appear before it tomorrow.
The high court bench directed the DU, Delhi Police, municipal corporations, New Delhi Municipal Council and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporations to place their stand before it in one week for allegedly not taking any action against the said violation and illegal act.

The bench also issued notice to the authorities and asked them to inspect the area, where such posters have been put up by all the student wings of major political parties, who are contesting the DUSU election.

The bench sought action taken report by the authorities before the next date of hearing, September 11, a day before the scheduled election.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Prashant Manchanda alleging that disruption of the classrooms by the candidates and student outfits in "horrible shape and painting (walls) in the classrooms, deals a striking body blow to the Right to life, liberty and education of the students".

He sought direction to the municipal bodies to slap heavy fines on the political parties and the candidates.
It sought directions to the authorities to "refurbish and prevent further defacement of the properties by the DUSU political outfits and aspiring candidates".
"The brazen acts of lawlessness unfurled by the prospective candidates and the student political organisations frescoes is a sad commentary on our education system which leads to a conspicuous sight of diminishing value of ethics and principles," the plea said.
"The aggravated illegal and destructive activities by the DUSU candidates at the present humongous rate and scale which, if left unchecked, will cause further disruption to the tranquility and cleanliness of our city," it added.

The PIL said the unwarranted and unassailable damage to the public property engenders irreparable cost to the exchequer and unnecessary added burden on the tax payer.
It also said no city or town can be allowed to become a jungle of posters, banners, hoardings and advertisements, which also affected the safety of drivers of vehicles or the pedestrians.
"The distasteful display of ugliness spread across the city at public places like Metros, subways, flyovers, over- bridges and so on leads to a negative impact over the environment as also dealing a body blow to the reputation and dignity of our country before foreign tourists", it said.